Created in Southbury, “The Healing Chickadee” Program Helps Children Cope with Loss

An innovative new bereavement resource for families can help girls and boys who are grieving with the loss of a loved one. “The Healing Chickadee” program was created by Soulful Sydney, Inc., a Southbury, Conn.-based 501(c)3 nonprofit that is dedicated to the mental and emotional health of children. The organization has begun introducing it to funeral directors across Connecticut to reach grieving families.

“The Healing Chickadee is a multi-media program featuring a group of plush birds called the Tweethearts -- ‘birds with words’ that help hard conversations take flight,” explains Terry Murphy, the Founder and Chief Enthusiast of Southbury-based Soulful Sydney, Inc. “Through interactive videos, activities, coloring projects, and original music by Disney composer David Friedman, children are encouraged to share their feelings in healthy, creative ways.” she says. “The bird characters, the activities, and the songs and stories are designed to enhance a child’s social-emotional skills and provide families with a catalyst for conversations about a topic that all too often seems off-limits. This communication builds connection — and helps to ensure that no child grieves alone.”

For Creators Terry Murphy and her sister, Deb Clarke, conceiving The Healing Chickadee was very personal because they know what it means to be children in grief. The sudden death of their 16-year-old brother over 50 years ago introduced them to an early experience of tragedy and loss, and they say that it was a local funeral director who greatly consoled them during that difficult time. Drawing upon this experience, they created The Healing Chickadee and her Tweet-Hearts who convey messages of comfort for a child in mourning. While it has been decades years since that tragedy, their realization that grief has no timetable was the impetus for them to find a way to help children seek comfort when they have suffered a loss, and they thought of things that would have been helpful to them and their family as they struggled to find solace and heal the wound of loss.

“Licensed funeral directors are in a unique position to provide comfort, resources, and guidance to children navigating the loss of a loved one,” continues Murphy, and she has begun the process of introducing The Healing Chickadee to members of the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association (CFDA) because they work with grieving families every day.

“Funeral service professionals know all too well that the effect of early childhood trauma and loss can be tremendous, and The Healing Chickadee is a creative and powerful new bereavement tool that we can share with the families we serve,” states Melissa Melin-Miles, 2025 President of the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association (CFDA). CFDA is comprised of funeral directors at more than 220 funeral homes across the state. “Children look to adults in their lives for support during times of loss and trauma, and we want to do all we can to bring education, comfort, and compassion to girls and boys when they need it most.”

Soulful Sydney, Inc. reports that childhood bereavement is a public health priority. According to the Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model, 1 in 11 children will experience the death of a parent or sibling by age 18. The ripple effects are profound:

• 97% of teachers believe that grief negatively impacts learning.
• Bereaved children are two times more likely to face significant challenges at home.
• 1 in 4 youth who die by suicide are bereaved.
• These youth are 175% more likely to develop a substance use disorder in adulthood.

To order a plush chickadee for to give to grieving child you know, visit www.HealingChickadee.com or call 203-521-6860. $24.95 includes the Tweetheart page with videos, activities, meditations and music.

Soulful Sydney, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to children’s emotional health and resilience. Through its programs – including The Healing Chickadee grief initiative and the Soulful Forest — the organization provides free, creative, and accessible resources to children nationwide, ensuring that those most in need receive the support they deserve. The Healing Chickadee program is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization. www.HealingChickadee.com

The 136-year-old Connecticut Funeral Directors Association is comprised of funeral directors at more than 220 funeral homes. Based in Wethersfield, Conn., the professional organization is committed to the promotion and advocacy of high ethical standards in funeral service. This includes the development and presentation of ongoing professional training opportunities for practitioners and educational programs for association members and the public. For more information about the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association, call 860-721-0234 or 800-919-2332 or visit www.ctfda.org