Full Opinion

FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL STATE OF FLORIDA _____________________________ No. 1D21-504 _____________________________ S.R., mother of E.C. and S.R., minor children, Appellant, v. DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, Appellee. _____________________________ On appeal from the Circuit Court for Walton County. Jeffrey E. Lewis, Judge. July 6, 2021 PER CURIAM. The mother of minor children E.C. and S.R. appeals the final judgment terminating her parental rights under section 39.806(1)(e)1., Florida Statutes (2020), for failing to substantially comply with her case plan. Despite her slow start, the testimony at trial showed that the mother has made recent progress. Even so, competent, substantial evidence supports the trial court’s determination that a statutory ground for termination of parental rights exists, that termination is in the children’s manifest best interests, and that termination is the least restrictive means of protecting the children from harm. See J.B. v. C.S., 186 So. 3d 1142, 1143 (Fla. 1st DCA 2016) (affirming termination despite evidence of the parent’s “marked improvement”); N.L. v. Dep’t of Children & Families, 843 So. 2d, 996, 1000 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003) (“Where the trial court’s findings that the evidence is clear and convincing are supported by competent substantial evidence, and the appellate court cannot say that no one could reasonably find such evidence to be clear and convincing, the finding will not be set aside on appellate review.”). AFFIRMED. KELSEY, NORDBY, and LONG, JJ., concur. _____________________________ Not final until disposition of any timely and authorized motion under Fla. R. App. P. 9.330 or 9.331. _____________________________ Melissa Joy Ford, Assistant Regional Conflict Counsel, Tallahassee, and Candice Kaye Brower, Office of Regional Conflict, Gainesville, for Appellant. Sarah J. Rumph, Children’s Legal Services, Tallahassee, for Appellee Department of Children and Families; Thomasina F. Moore, Statewide Director of Appeals, Sara Goldfarb, Senior Attorney, and Rebecca Lynn Bartlett, Senior Attorney, Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office, Tallahassee, for Appellee Guardian ad Litem. 2