The parents of four children appeal the termination of their parental rights. They contend the evidence was insufficient to support the decision. On appeal from a termination order, this Court views the evidence in the light most favorable to the appellee and determines whether any rational trier of fact could have found by clear and convincing evidence that the natural parent’s rights to custody have been lost. In the Interest of S. H., 251 Ga. App. 555 1 553 SE2d 849 2001. “We do not weigh the evidence and must defer to the trial judge as the factfinder.” Citation and punctuation omitted. In the Interest of C. F., 251 Ga. App. 708 555 SE2d 81 2001. C. G. and Y. W. are the unwed mother and biological father of the four children at issue, who were age 5, 3, 2, and 2 months, respectively, as of May 2004. At that time, the parents had limited income. The mother was unemployed and on food stamps, but she received a disability check every month for $565 because she has a learning disability and cannot work. The father was making about $200 a week in a part-time job, but he had no transportation and had to walk to work. The parents apparently were unable to manage these resources. They were forced to move to temporary accommodations that were too small for the family, and they did not have enough money for food and diapers for the children. On May 18, 2004, DFACS removed the children from the parents when it learned of these conditions. The initial caseworker did not testify, and there is no other information in the record about the conditions in which the children were living with their parents.
On May 28, 2004, following the original detention hearing, the Juvenile Court of Cobb County found as a matter of fact that probable cause existed to believe the children were deprived because “the parent’s financial circumstances are insufficient to the point of not being able to provide for the children’s basic necessities of life.” The judge also found that continuation in the home would be contrary to the children’s welfare because, “no parent is able to provide appropriate care, control or custody of the children.” On June 10, 2004, following a final deprivation hearing, the court made the same findings based on “clear and convincing evidence.” The children were placed in the custody of DFACS, and the parents consented to case plans for the children.
