The mother of four-year-old D.N.K. appeals from the juvenile court’s order finding the child deprived and continuing temporary custody of the child with the Fulton County Department of Family and Children Services “the Department”. The juvenile court’s decision was based primarily on a finding that the mother, who has retained custody of her three other children, could not properly care for D.N.K. without support due to D.N.K.’s disability. Because the finding of deprivation is not supported by clear and convincing evidence, we reverse the judgment of the juvenile court.On appeal from a determination that a child is deprived, we review the evidence in the light most favorable to the juvenile court’s judgment to determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found by clear and convincing evidence that the child was deprived.1 This standard of review safeguards the high value society places on the integrity of the family unit and helps eliminate the risk that a factfinder might base his or her determination on a few isolated instances of unusual conduct or idiosyncratic behavior.2 Only under compelling circumstances found to exist by clear and convincing proof may a court sever the parent-child custodial relationship.3 Viewed in a light most favorable to the judgment of the juvenile court, the evidence shows that D.N.K. and two of his siblings came into the Department’s custody in December 2003 based on the mother’s failure to provide adequate supervision for the children.4 Specifically, the mother had left the children with a babysitter who had been mistreating them. A reunification plan was developed and D.N.K.’s siblings, one of whom has traits of autism, were returned to the mother’s custody in 2004. D.N.K., who suffers from developmental delays, remained in the Department’s custody and underwent occupational, physical and speech therapy. He visited his mother and siblings on weekends.
A case plan was developed to reunite the child with his mother and siblings. The mother complied with the case plan requirements. But in June 2005, the juvenile court reviewed the case and found that the mother was no longer employed, did not have adequate child care, no longer had a telephone, and was having difficulty paying rent. The court ordered her to resume compliance with the case plan.
