History of GIFT CONNECT

              GIFT CONNECT has been working since 2017 to bring 0 to 5 education to the United States and the world.

For five years the GIFT CONNECT team has conducted research on 0 to 5 across America and developing countries including state-by-state Governor’s Councils, top experts in the field, selected early childhood organizations and experienced researchers. The GIFT CONNECT professional research and outreach has been persistent and extensive.  GIFT CONNECT does not claim to have reached all the important research, organizations or experts but believe we are off to a great start and will continue to expand over time.

Examples include: In 2019, with U.S. Senator Chris Coons and Governor Carney, GC hosted a statewide conference pioneering a major 0 to 5 statewide collaborative emphasis, followed by an all-day 0 to 5 “Call to Action” in the Governor’s mansion with Delaware’s 0 to 5 leadership. In 2020, Dr. John Hutton, MD. MS FAAP, leading pediatrician and clinical researcher from the world-leading Cincinnati Children’s Hospital presented 0 to 5 to the Joint Education Committee of the Delaware Senate and House, with events in Delaware’s three counties.

In 2017, George Halvorson, the former CEO of Kaiser Permanente, Chair and CEO, The Institute for InterGroup Understanding and a world leading scientist and health professional, along with Dr. Roberta Golinkoff (UDEL) galvanized GC to become an important statewide advocate to make early childhood development 0 to 5 – with a special emphasis on the science of 0 to 3 – a policy imperative. Working with Governor John Carney, First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney, the Governor’s Early Childhood Council, the Delaware Department of Education, and Rodel along with multiple major diversity, equity and inclusion, health, business, labor and nonprofit organizations, GC has been a significant 0 to 5 voice and advocate. 

As a catalyst, GIFT connect has played a leading role making 0 to 5 a policy imperative.