Madden is making a difference in WWCSD

By Sarah Shurge – According to Priority Health, one in five kids struggle with mental health.
This is why Priority Health partnered with Canines for Change to launch Priority Pups – a program sponsoring trained facility dogs to be placed in selected school districts to ease anxiety and support kids as they learn.
Madden, the nearly two-year-old Goldendoodle, is the facility dog that was placed in the Wayne-Westland Community Schools District.
“He is super chill. He brings calm wherever he goes; lots of happiness and smiles for both the staff and the students,” said Amanda Faughnan, Madden’s handler and WWCSD Supervisor of Mental Health & Support Services.
Madden officially joined the district in Winter 2025. We first got him in April 2025 from Canines for Change when he was six months old. Canines for Change trains and places dogs for seizure alert, diabetes, mobility support, autism assistance, and facility work (like Madden).
Madden had to go to puppy bootcamp for facility dogs, where he worked one-on-one with an instructor daily. When Madden turned one, he took a certification test to become a certified facility dog.
“He passed with no problems, but it still was a lot of hard work along the way,” said Faughnan.
The work started long before Madden was even in the picture. “This was a two to three years process– trying to find the right fit for the school district,” said Faughnan. “This program is the right fit.”
The district owns Madden and has two co-handlers for him (Faughnan and Molly Hester, First Grade teacher at Hamilton Elementary School) to use him with the district crisis team.
Madden works at Hamilton Elementary four days a week, but if a situation is going on at another building, he can go there and support. He has been to every building in the district, from babies to senior center.
“I saw the value of it in other districts and being a dog owner myself, I see value. Looking at students that might need emotional regulations, I felt this would help bring a calm to that,” said Faughnan.
Faughnan has worked in the district for over 17 years. “With mental health issues continuing to be on the rise, any support we can offer students and families is needed,” said Faughnan.
Faughnan is hoping to grow the program in Wayne-Westland, however, funding is the problem. Priority Health is only able to fund one dog.
If you are interested in helping with continued sponsorship of Madden (with food, veterinary bills, etc.) or sponsoring another dog, contact Faughnan via email FaughnanA@wwcsd.net or call (734)419-2035.
“I want to give a shout out to Priority Health and Canines for Change. Without help this wouldn’t be possible. Priority was an awesome partner to work around getting Madden, and Canines for their continued help,” said Faughnan.
For more information about Canines for Change, visit caninesforchange.org
For more information about Priority Pups, visit priorityhealth-.com/about-us/priority-pups. There you can see which pup is placed at which school. You can also watch the Fox 2 coverage of Madden and the other facility dogs in Michigan.
Madden’s siblings are all working in different districts across Michigan. They are the first Priority Pups to be placed in Metro Detroit.