What Is a GRASS Group?

Each GRASS group is autonomous. Individual groups are responsible for following the GRASS Guiding Principles but can make additional rules through group conscience meetings. 

A GRASS group is made up of meetings that are held daily, weekly, or multiple times a week. Each GRASS group is autonomous. Group autonomy means each group is independent and has the freedom to govern itself and control its own affairs. 

Each GRASS group can create its own rules and structure, provided they fall within GRASS Guiding Principles, Code of Ethics, and Guidelines for GRASS Meeting Participants. 

 Each GRASS group can decide on its own rules, which should be reflected in the meeting housekeeping reminders. These can include things like: 

• Length of meeting (60 min, 90 min, last hand, etc.)
• Format of the meeting
• Topics that are allowed, not allowed, or require trigger warnings
• Service roles needed in the group or in individual meetings
• Length of service commitments 
• When to hold its monthly group conscience meeting
• If shares have a time limit or if double-dipping, triple-dipping, etc. is allowed
• Whether or not feedback is allowed 
• What recovery material is used
• How to handle conflicts and enforce group rules
• Boundaries around specific behaviors and language
• And other nuanced items that reflect the individual group’s culture

Groups also decide whether to use an official GRASS Recovery Grow Room or another venue and whether the meeting is open to all, is for a specific group (women's only, men's only, LGBTQ+, etc.), or is by invitation only.

Individual GRASS groups are responsible for filling service positions in their meetings and making sure meetings are held according to schedule. Groups are also responsible for keeping the meeting space safe and ensuring participants abide by group rules. 

Decisions in individual GRASS groups should be made through group conscience. 

What is a GRASS Home Group? 

A home group is a GRASS meeting or group that you attend regularly. Everyone in GRASS is encouraged to have at least one home group that you commit to attending on a weekly or daily basis. This helps to build consistency in your recovery.

Note: This is the first article in a series of GRASS explainers. READ NEXT: Group Conscience: How Decisions Are Made in GRASS