The mother of A. M. appeals from an order of the juvenile court terminating her parental rights. On appeal, she contends: the Douglas County Department of Family and Children Services failed to show by clear and convincing evidence that her parental rights should be terminated; the court failed to make a finding that the continued deprivation will or is likely to cause harm to the child; the court did not consider whether she failed to, for one year or more, develop and maintain a parental bond with the child, to provide care and support for the child, and to comply with a court-ordered plan designed to reunite her with the child; the court based its finding of unfitness on her past conduct alone; the Department failed to conduct a thorough search to place the child with a suitable family member; and the Department failed to pursue alternatives to termination.1 The contentions are without merit, so we affirm the judgment of the juvenile court. The appropriate standard of appellate review in a case where a parent’s rights to her child have been severed is whether, after reviewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the appellee, any rational trier of fact could have found by clear and convincing evidence that the parent’s rights to custody have been lost.2 The fact-finding and weighing of evidence are to be done in the trial court under the clear and convincing test.3 The reviewing court is to defer to the lower court in the area of fact-finding and should affirm unless the appellate standard of review is not met.4
OCGA § 15-11-94 a provides the two-step procedure for the termination of parental rights. The first step requires a finding of parental misconduct or inability, which requires clear and convincing evidence that: 1 the child is deprived; 2 lack of proper parental care or control is the cause of the deprivation; 3 such cause of deprivation is likely to continue; and 4 the continued deprivation will cause or is likely to cause serious physical, mental, emotional, or moral harm to the child.5 If these four factors are satisfied, the court must then determine whether termination of parental rights is in the child’s best interest, considering the child’s physical, mental, emotional, and moral condition and needs, including the need for a secure and stable home.6
