Represented by a guardian ad litem, seven-year-old D. W, six-year-old C. W, and four-year-old J. W. appeal from the juvenile court’s order finding insufficient evidence to support the termination of their mother’s parental rights.
1. In reviewing a juvenile court’s ruling in a termination of parental rights proceeding “[t]his [c]ourt neither weighs evidence nor determines the credibility of witnesses; rather, we defer to the trial court’s factfinding and affirm unless the appellate standard is not met.” (Citations and punctuation omitted.) In the Interest of A. M.,
[t]he juvenile court employs a two-prong analysis for determining whether parental rights should be terminated under OCGA § 15-11-94. First, the court determines whether there is clear and convincing evidence of parental misconduct or that the parent is unable to care for and control the child. Second, the court determines whether termination is in the best interest of the child.
(Citation and punctuation omitted.) Id.
“[T] he juvenile court is required to make explicit findings as to the existence of parental misconduct or inability as defined in OCGA § 15-11-94 (b).” (Citations, punctuation and footnote omitted.) In the Interest of A. D. L.,
Accordingly, we vacate the judgment of the juvenile court and remand this case with direction that the court make appropriate findings of fact and conclusions of law and enter a judgment based thereon. See In the Interest of S. W. J. P. D., supra,
2. Having found it necessary to remand this case, we do not ] reach the appellants’ remaining enumeration of error.
Judgment vacated and case remanded with direction.
Notes
In the same proceeding, the juvenile court terminated the parental rights of the children’s putative fathers.
