There is an urgent need for better support for older teenagers entering care for the first time, new Griffith University research has found. Professor Silke Meyer from Griffith's School of Allied Health, Sport and Social Work conducted a scoping review that examined research on older adolescents ages 15–17.
The paper "Characteristics, circumstances and support needs of older young people entering care for the first time: A scoping review" has been published in Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal.
"While there is extensive research on children in care generally, there is very limited evidence specifically dedicated to older teenagers when they enter care for the first time," Professor Meyer said.
"They are a unique cohort of young people, and it is imperative that we know more about their characteristics and the level of support they need when entering care, as they are more likely to display behavioral problems compared with younger cohorts.
"This is often due to cumulative but unaddressed adverse childhood experiences and complex family circumstances."
The evidence identified revealed high rates of voluntary care entry, including parental relinquishment of care.
Older young people entering care for the first time were more likely to be affected by absent parenting than abuse and neglect, compared with younger children.
Professor Meyer said there was a clear evidence gap regarding trajectories and support needs for older young people entering care for the first time.
"This cohort and their families are likely to have several touchpoints with a range of service systems before care entry, creating opportunities for earlier, holistic, trauma-informed and child-centered support mechanisms," she said.
"We need a better understanding of this group of teenagers so we can identify risks earlier, which may reduce the likelihood of adolescents needing to enter care later in childhood.
"Additionally, older adolescents can have different experiences and needs than younger children as they are closer to adulthood and may face unique challenges related to education, mental health, family relationships, housing and transitioning to independence.
"Ultimately, we need more research to better understand the pathways into care for older teenagers and hear from them about their lived experiences, perspectives and support needs."
More information
Tracy Wilde et al, Characteristics, Circumstances and Support Needs of Older Young People Entering Care for the First Time: A Scoping Review, Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal (2026). DOI: 10.1007/s10560-026-01110-9
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Citation: Older teens entering care often overlooked (2026, July 23) retrieved 23 July 2026 from https://phys.org/news/2026-07-older-teens-overlooked.html
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